Many, many years ago, when they were building MARTA train lines in Atlanta, they mis-built two LARGE concrete piers. I remember going by there seeing the piers gradually go up. A couple of weeks later, they are jackhammering the concrete, and I am wondering, "what the fark." Two days later I see a news story, they had built them rotated the wrong way and had to tear them down and start over.

As far as this particular article, yes, I'd like a more clear report on what actually happened

In my best, but still incredibly deficient, pocketninja voice - This is a perfectly excusable error and is probably just the result of northern hemisphere engineers working in the southern hemisphere. I once installed a toilet upside down for the exact same reason, so I can understand their confusion.